TBR Timberline Resources Corporation

Timberline Resources Corporation (NYSE Amex:TLR) (TSX-V:TBR) ("Timberline"), an emerging junior gold producer, announced today that it has been added to the Russell Microcap® Index, following the Russell Investment Group's annual reconstitution of its indexes. The Russell Microcap® Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the microcap and smallcap segments trading on national exchanges. Membership in the Russell Microcap® Index means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes.

"Joining the companies comprising the Russell Microcap® Index expands our exposure with the professional investment community," stated Randal Hardy, Timberline's Chief Executive Officer. He added, "We expect that being part of this widely recognized index will increase our profile and introduce our company to a more widely-diversified investor base."

Russell indexes are extensively used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies. An industry-leading $3.9 trillion in assets currently are benchmarked to them. Investment managers who oversee these funds purchase shares of member stocks according to a company's weighting in the particular index. Annual reconstitution of Russell indexes captures the 4,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization to create the Russell 3000® and Russell Microcap Indexes. The largest 1,000 companies in the ranking comprise the Russell 1000® while the remaining 2,000 companies become the widely used Russell 2000®. The Microcap Index measures performance of the microcap segment, and includes the smallest 1,000 companies in the Russell 2000® Index plus the next 1,000 companies.

Total returns data for the Russell Microcap and other Russell Indexes is available at http://www.russell.com/Indexes/performance/default.asp.

About Timberline Resources Corporation

Timberline is a diversified gold company with three complementary business units: a mine in development with anticipated gold production, an active exploration division with a large, drill-tested, highly prospective project portfolio in Nevada's Battle Mountain - Eureka gold trend, and two contract core drilling subsidiaries in the U.S. and Mexico providing revenues and cash flow to the company. Timberline is focused on the evaluation and the acquisition of advanced-stage exploration opportunities, with the potential for near-term development and production. Timberline formed a 50/50 joint venture with Highland Mining, LLC, an affiliate of Small Mine Development, at its royalty-free Butte Highlands Gold Project which commenced development in the summer of 2009 and has gold production targeted in 2011.  The Management team has experience, depth, and a solid track record of achievement in building successful companies and discovering economic ore bodies. Timberline is listed on the NYSE Amex where it trades under the symbol "TLR" and on the TSX Venture Exchange where it trades under the symbol "TBR".

Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the Company's 50/50 joint venture with Highland Mining LLC, the development and production of the Company's Butte Highlands project, and the Company's expected operations. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "upcoming," "plan," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to Timberline Resources Corporation, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, such factors, including risk factors, discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2009. Except as required by Federal Securities law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements.

CONTACT:  Timberline Resources Corporation
          Randal Hardy, CEO 
          208.664.4859